Newbie checking in!

[peterngit]

Hello all ill be around for awhile.

Currently stuck with a $79 bike =) but yeh will invest in a better one if i enjoy ridding.

I've been reading around an the optimal pedal rate is around 90 rpm but i was wondering what is the name of the tool? i can only seem to find a odometer to measure the overall speed

EDIT: i found the device name while this post was waiting for approval =)

[g-boaf]

Cadence sensor, a magnet on the crank arm - the sensor on the chainstay and a Garmin (or a Bryton if you want to get KOMs!!)

90rpm is a good cadence, even 100rpm is good too. I used to mash the pedals - but I've tried to avoid doing that. It's much easier if you ride with a fast cadence (the RPM of pedal spinning) - and eventually you find that even if you are doing 30km/h, you can quite easily build up more speed quickly. It also puts less strain on your knees and other muscles too, from my own experiences.

I had a few injuries of recent - one of the Adductor Magnus, and the other was a knee issue. I got back into it too quickly and didn't help the recovery. Low cadence hurt them more than fast spinning, especially the knee. I'm recovered now - but will be aware of it.

[peterngit]

Thanks! for the helpful information!

awww injury sucks no matter what you are doing, hope it doesn't happen again =)

Im planning to buy a buy a better bike from here to Christmas, would you guys know any decent bike stores to look out for? around Liverpool, casual, Preston are would be great! pretty much looking forward to a end of year sale (no idea when). I am probably aiming for a budget of around 400-800 dollars.

Oooo lol and my first ride i tracked only 2.8k and i was tired =p

[nomadicsoul]

I'm fairly newbie too with cycling. I started with a BIG W bike and then treated myself in May to a Trek DS8.3 - absolutely love the thing ($649). I bought mine from the Trek Concept Store in Rouse Hill. A bit of a pain to get to without a car, but the staff are great and also free unlimited servicing and tune ups for 12 months after you buy it. This bike compared to the BIG W bike has made a huge difference in my riding enjoyment - I can go faster and further without getting as tired and it has compelled me to get into cycling more seriously.

[g-boaf]

Trek Rouse Hill seem to have a good reputation.

Giant Sydney are very good (down the end of Clarence Street near Town Hall) but they are very far away from you. The staff there are very cool.

[Tornado]

Welcome to the forum. Enjoy your stay!

[peterngit]

Thanks guys! ill be checking Trek Rouse Hill out! two recommendation! hope the bike will some how fit in my civic =)

Do bikes go on sales? and if so any idea when?

oh yeh and im more looking for the drop down handle bars with blifters =) would be cool if i didn't have to mod the bike

Found two bikes

http://www.this link is broken/Cell-2013-Blade-Road-Bike" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.trekbikes.com/au/en/bikes/ro ... series/1_2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

good or bad idea? hmm cell 2013 is currently on sale, only 59.5cm frame left how sure if that is a good fit im 175cm tall =) (are cell bikes always on sale or should i take it now before all stocks are gone)

[g-boaf]

If you are 175cm, a 59cm frame will be far too large!

You need something around a 54cm - go to a bike store and try them out.

[peterngit]

Yep! checked the cell's height chart so 54cm is what i would need im looking forward to the cell blade but the new models will be coming in next month, only that is that is comes with a toe cage not clipless =)

[g-boaf]

As for sales, wait for the time when the next years models are expected and they are trying to get rid of the old stock. You might score a better bike than you expected.

Or otherwise, buy at TdF time.

[wombatK]

Yep! checked the cell's height chart so 54cm is what i would need im looking forward to the cell blade but the new models will be coming in next month, only that is that is comes with a toe cage not clipless =)

There's more to good fit than just checking your height and in-seam (as used in Cell's chart). The Competitive Cyclist Fit Calculator is an excellent tool which you can use to "self-measure".
It will give you a range of top-tube and seat-tube length recommendations, which you need to check against
the bike frame specs.

Unfortunately, Cells' website doesn't publish the critical frame dimensions for the cheaper bikes - you might have to go into the shop to check it, or try ringing to ask them.
And also, with Cells chart, what they mean by "59 cm" frame can be different on other brand bikes - there is no agreed standard amongst bicycle manufacturers about
how they actually make that particular measurement (e.g. from center of crank v's from top of crank etc.,.). And the "59 cm" doesn't give you any information about the
top tube length.

Most of Cell's (and other brands) or road-bikes don't include decent pedals in the price - it's a trick to keep the sticker price down. You'll probably want to replace the cheap pedals
on the Blade with something better quality before too long.

[peterngit]

Thanks guys! so a bit of update, nothing new pretty much waiting for the CELL BLADE, if you guys know about bike around that price (+100 or so extra to ok) but it better then the cell blade please inform me =) so i am pretty much looking the the best bang for the buck before that next stocks comes in

[peterngit]

Hey guys what do you guys think about this Reid bike compared to the cell blade?

http://www.reidcycles.com.au/bicycles/r ... l4dqFCkxvg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; cost only $20 more. weight still in 9.xxkg? i also looks hotter =)) 27 gears same (blade is 9)

actually http://www.this link is broken/Cell-2013-S ... gory=12632" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; looks better and a level up from blade =)

[peterngit]

Weird it doesn't let me edit any more, i have no idea why the more i look the more i want to jump up a notch in the bike

http://www.this link is broken/Cell-2013-T ... gory=12632" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Cell 2013 Team

about 400g litter fitting with 105 group set under 300 more then the swift, farrk is it worth the jump guys?

[im_no_pro]

Hehehe.... The upgraditis is strong in this one

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

[g-boaf]

Some bike with 11 speed Dura Ace for the win!

(can I get him to buy it??)

[peterngit]

With the swift i didn't like the white handle bars and seat, the shiftier also looks more sleek in the cell team =) replacing the seat and handle bars would make the price difference worth it =)

EDIT: next little jump is carbon frame, about 800 grams lighter = under 9kg O.O keeping my hands of that =))


hmm does bikes usually comes with holes to mount water bottles?

[im_no_pro]

Yeah it will have bidon mounts. Roadies should have 2 sets.

Sent from my GT-I9210T using Tapatalk

[wombatK]

Weird it doesn't let me edit any more, i have no idea why the more i look the more i want to jump up a notch in the bike

http://www.this link is broken/Cell-2013-T ... gory=12632" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Cell 2013 Team

about 400g litter fitting with 105 group set under 300 more then the swift, farrk is it worth the jump guys?

Your speakin to someone who bought a Cell Blade to start with over 5 years ago, and kinda regretted not spending
a few extra bucks for the Team - mainly due to better wheels and smoother shifting on 105 levers.

However, I'm not so keen to recommend the current Team model. From the photos, it looks like the cables exit from
the STI levers under the handlebar wrap, and no cable adjuster has been provided inline with the cables. Yep, it
looks cool. But...

While there's an adjuster at the RD, there's none for the Front (FD).

But my experience is that the FD cable is the one that cops most strain and tends to need tension adjustment
It's a fiddly adjustment to get just right - you really need to operate the levers under full loads to check if its
right. So the best way to do it is on the bike, using a conveniently located cable adjuster.

It would be a show stopper for me if there wasn't a barrel adjuster at the lever, or an inline adjuster somewhere
in reach.

Curiously, Cells' cheaper Tiagra model appears to have the barrel adjusters (and cables not wrapped). So I'd stop
the "upgrade" process at that model. Or look fro an 105 based bike that has more sensible adjusters provided.

[peterngit]

For the FD barrel adjuster isn't that the one in front of the headset above the wheel?

[RonK]

Currently stuck with a $79 bike =) but yeh will invest in a better one if i enjoy ridding.

Not a great strategy - the experience of riding a $79 bike is more likely to put you off cycling for life.

[Zcootz]

Currently stuck with a $79 bike =) but yeh will invest in a better one if i enjoy ridding.

Not a great strategy - the experience of riding a $79 bike is more likely to put you off cycling for life.

+1 To that. My first bike was a $100 special that lasted a week. Don't forget to consider a second hand bike, take a bike savvy friend along and you can get better bang for your $$$$ that way. Just picked up a sweet second hand Kona Sutra for touring for under a third of new price. About 1000km later the only money I need to spend is $30 for some gel pads and new bar tape. It even shines like a new bike

[wombatK]

For the FD barrel adjuster isn't that the one in front of the headset above the wheel?

Doesn't look like it from the photos, which aren't very detailed. Photos on website can be different to what you get.
You ought to go look in the shop, or ask Cell. Trouble is, it's presently showing as out of stock on website, so might
be unobtainable anyway.

[peterngit]

New stock comming mid november, I think its the new versions or does 2014 version comes out in 2014=p

[Homo Suburbiensis]

Weird it doesn't let me edit any more, i have no idea why the more i look the more i want to jump up a notch in the bike

http://www.this link is broken/Cell-2013-T ... gory=12632" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - Cell 2013 Team

about 400g litter fitting with 105 group set under 300 more then the swift, farrk is it worth the jump guys?

Your speakin to someone who bought a Cell Blade to start with over 5 years ago, and kinda regretted not spending
a few extra bucks for the Team - mainly due to better wheels and smoother shifting on 105 levers.

However, I'm not so keen to recommend the current Team model. From the photos, it looks like the cables exit from
the STI levers under the handlebar wrap, and no cable adjuster has been provided inline with the cables. Yep, it
looks cool. But...

While there's an adjuster at the RD, there's none for the Front (FD).

But my experience is that the FD cable is the one that cops most strain and tends to need tension adjustment
It's a fiddly adjustment to get just right - you really need to operate the levers under full loads to check if its
right. So the best way to do it is on the bike, using a conveniently located cable adjuster.

It would be a show stopper for me if there wasn't a barrel adjuster at the lever, or an inline adjuster somewhere
in reach.

Curiously, Cells' cheaper Tiagra model appears to have the barrel adjusters (and cables not wrapped). So I'd stop
the "upgrade" process at that model. Or look fro an 105 based bike that has more sensible adjusters provided.

I only registered to reply to the above post because it is wrong.
And that is why people who have only ridden high end bikes with fancy Di2 or internal cable routing should not comment on lower end bikes. Haha
If you didn't know, the barrel adjuster is located on the down tube, right behind the head tube/fork. They are the two black things you see there.
Most other big brands do this as well.
For example:
Specialised
http://www.specialized.com/au/en-au/bik ... llez-sport" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Trek
http://www.trekbikes.com/au/en/bikes/ro ... 2_compact/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Merida
http://www.merida.com.au/2013-bikes/roa ... e-903.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and a google search comes up with this discussion http://www.cyclingweekly.cc/forum/tech- ... sters-6501" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . Apparently they are good to use while racing.


BTW the some 2014 Cell bikes road bikes are on display at the bike and lifestyle show. They look awesome!